Josh Strauss
Forward Josh Strauss is available for Scotland’s Six Nations match against France in Paris on Saturday – despite losing his passport.
Strauss was a doubt for the match after his South African passport went missing, with it being too late for the 32-year-old to get a replacement.
However, the Scottish Rugby Union says the situation has now been resolved and he will make the trip.
Big Blow for Scotland as head knock rules Finn Russell out
Scotland are “fully capable of executing the game plan” despite Finn Russell’s absence against France, says Tommy Seymour.
Fly-half Russell, 26, has been ruled out of Saturday’s Six Nations trip to Paris after failing a concussion test.
Gregor Townsend’s side have won one and lost one so far in this year’s championship.
“We won’t be changing massively the things we’ll be looking to do based on one injury,” said Seymour, 30.
“We’ve got a style of play we want to adhere to. Finn has been playing really well and it’s a shame, but these guys are fully capable of executing the game plan.
“We’ve been focusing on the game and these guys have all got the experience and slot naturally into their position. We’ve just faced this week as we would any other and just dealt with what we’ve been dealt.”
Russell was replaced in the first half of Racing 92’s 34-29 defeat by Top 14 leaders Toulouse on Sunday after suffering a head knock.
On Tuesday, Scotland said he had not satisfied the requirements of the “graduated return to play protocol” for concussion cases and Russell will return to the care of his club’s medical team.
Scotland had already called up Worcester Warriors’ Duncan Weir as cover, with Glasgow Warriors duo Peter Horne and Adam Hastings in the frame to start at the Stade de France.
And winger Seymour said: “It’s a real shame to lose Finn, but I have complete confidence in all three of them that all three of them can come in and do a wonderful job for us.
“They’re all experienced at this level, they’ve all shown both at club and international level they can manage a game and manage it very well and be standout performers.”
Injuries ‘not ideal’
Back-row Magnus Bradbury, wing Dougie Fife and centre James Johnstone, all Edinburgh, and Glasgow Warriors forwards Zander Fagerson and George Turner were also added to the squad this week.
Warriors pair George Horne and Stafford McDowall, as well as Edinburgh front-row forwards David Cherry, Murray McCallum and Leicester Tigers forward Jake Kerr, have dropped out.
Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend is already without his first-choice back-row from last year in John Barclay, Hamish Watson and Ryan Wilson, as well as in-form forward Sam Skinner and key prop WP Nel.
Last week, he lost British and Irish Lions full-back Stuart Hogg and centre Huw Jones to injuries that may keep them out for the remainder of the tournament.
“It’s not ideal that we’ve lost the guys we’ve lost, but we’ve been talking for quite a long time about the depth we’ve created and this is a good test for us,” Seymour added.
‘World-class Russell is irreplaceable’ – analysis
Former Scotland sevens scrum-half Colin Gregor on Radio Scotland
Finn Russell is irreplaceable. He is a world-class operator just now. That first half against Ireland, he was absolutely fantastic.
Whoever comes in, whether it’s Horne or Hastings, they play in a similar manner, so I think Scotland can still look to attack France with the high-tempo, all-action rugby that is going to be required.
Going over to Stade de France, it’s an incredibly hostile environment against a French team that are very much up against it, so I would go for Horne for that extra bit of experience that he has.
There is big pressure on this Scotland team. Losing to Ireland is really disappointing and, with both Wales and England to come and in good form, it is really important that they get a result.
Scotland squad
Forwards: Alex Allan (Glasgow Warriors), Adam Ashe (Glasgow Warriors), Simon Berghan (Edinburgh), Jamie Bhatti (Glasgow Warriors), Magnus Bradbury (Edinburgh), Fraser Brown (Glasgow Warriors); Luke Crosbie (Edinburgh), Allan Dell (Edinburgh), Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors), Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh), Gary Graham (Newcastle Falcons), Jonny Gray (Glasgow Warriors), John Hardie (Newcastle Falcons), Rob Harley (Glasgow Warriors), Stuart McInally (Edinburgh), Willem Nel (Edinburgh), D’Arcy Rae (Glasgow Warriors), Jamie Ritchie (Edinburgh), Josh Strauss (Sale Sharks), Tim Swinson (Glasgow Warriors), Ben Toolis (Edinburgh), George Turner (Glasgow Warriors), Ryan Wilson (Glasgow Warriors).
Backs: Chris Dean (Edinburgh), Dougie Fife (Edinburgh), Darcy Graham (Edinburgh), Nick Grigg (Glasgow Warriors), Rory Hughes (Glasgow Warriors), Sam Johnson (Glasgow Warriors), Chris Harris (Newcastle Falcons), Adam Hastings (Glasgow Warriors), Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors), Pete Horne (Glasgow Warriors), James Johnstone (Edinburgh), Lee Jones (Glasgow Warriors), Blair Kinghorn (Edinburgh), Greig Laidlaw (Clermont Auvergne), Sean Maitland (Saracens), Ali Price (Glasgow Warriors), Henry Pyrgos (Edinburgh), Tommy Seymour (Glasgow Warriors), Duncan Weir (Worcester Warriors).
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